In previous articles, we shared some of the choices made to ensure that every element of La Preséf reflects its identity: from the new uniforms, created with a focus on quality and craftsmanship, to the menu holders, chosen for their connection with materials and the local area.
This journey now continues through other elements that may appear more discreet, but are just as important: beeswax candles, living centrepieces, and the papers used for the menu and wine list.
These are not simply decorative details or service tools, but choices that form part of a consistent effort to enhance natural resources, reduce waste, and maintain a tangible connection with the local area.
Each decision begins with observing what we use every day and searching for solutions that are more natural, responsible, and durable. The aim is not merely to replace one object with another, but to reconsider its origin, purpose, and life cycle, so that even the simplest elements can make a meaningful contribution to the identity of La Preséf.
The Natural Light of Beeswax Candles
Our collaboration with Apicoltura Tognoni began with the desire to eliminate traditional paraffin candles and replace them with candles made from beeswax.
For this project, we had to extend our search beyond the province in order to find a producer capable of guaranteeing the quality and quantities required for the restaurant’s service.
Beeswax is a natural material with a delicate, unobtrusive fragrance. It burns more cleanly and evenly, allowing the candle to be consumed gradually without excessive melting.
The project was developed together with Apicoltura Tognoni, defining specific measurements and diameters so that each candle would fit perfectly into the candle holders used on the tables at La Preséf.
The difference is also evident at the end of service: the glass candle holders remain clean, without the black residue and soot often left by traditional candles.
The most significant aspect of the collaboration, however, is the introduction of a closed-loop process. Candles that are not completely used are collected, melted down, and transformed into new candles. In this way, we reduce waste and continue to make the most of a natural raw material beyond its first use.
A Centrepiece That Grows
The table decorations also arose from a reflection on simplicity.
Initially, we used cut flowers: natural, immediate, and pleasing elements. Over time, however, we realised that during certain periods of the year we were forced to choose flowers that, although beautiful, did not fully represent the local area or the identity of La Preséf.
This led to the desire to find a solution that was simple, yet more authentic, distinctive, and capable of changing with the seasons.
The inspiration came from a simple and curious object: a vase designed for germinating an avocado seed. It is not a typically Valtellina object, but we were drawn to its function and form. Its narrow neck supports the seed, bulb, or vegetable, while the transparent glass reveals what would normally remain hidden.
This is how a living centrepiece was created, with water becoming an integral part of the design. Through the glass, it is possible to observe the roots developing and the plant growing, in a process similar to hydroponics.
The light passing through the water and the vase also creates delicate reflections that change throughout the day, making each composition dynamic.
The vase can be interpreted in different ways throughout the year: it can hold a tulip bulb as it slowly takes root and flowers, a turnip with its colourful leaves, or small varieties of lettuce.
The centrepiece is therefore not a static decoration, but a small living organism that grows and changes, bringing to the table a tangible sign of time, seasonality, and nature.
Paper That Continues to Live
The choice of paper used at La Preséf comes from the same intention: to transform an everyday material into a resource that is more consistent with the restaurant’s principles.
The menu is printed on seed paper, a living paper that can be taken home and planted in the soil. With water, light, and care, the sheet can grow into wild herbs and flowers.
It is a simple gesture that gives the paper a second, tangible, and natural life, rather than allowing its purpose to end once the meal is over.
For the wine list, we selected Crush Uva, an innovative material created by recovering waste from the wine production process.
During the harvest and winemaking process, grapes generate by-products such as pomace. Through specific processes, these residues are dried and micronised into a fine powder, which is then blended with natural fibres to produce an environmentally friendly paper.
This process helps reduce the use of virgin raw materials and gives value to something that would normally be considered waste.
The result is a paper with a strong connection to the world of wine, not only aesthetically but also through its material composition. It gives the wine list an additional meaning and places it firmly within a circular economy approach.
Small Choices, Part of a Shared Commitment
Beeswax candles, living centrepieces, and papers made from seeds or grape-processing waste may seem secondary when compared with the cuisine.
For La Preséf, however, they are all part of the same commitment: to use natural resources more consciously, reduce waste, and select materials that are consistent with the local area and the identity of the restaurant.
These choices arise from research, from dialogue with producers and craftspeople, and from the desire to act even on the simplest aspects of service.
Because enhancing the local area is not only about the ingredients served on the plate, but also about the way every resource is selected, used, and, whenever possible, recovered.
